Having Trouble Sleeping?

Is there anything more frustrating than spending an entire night listening to the tick of the clock on your bedside table?

Stress and every day life events can often create periodic restless nights that can sap your vitality and zip. Without enough rest, you become more forgetful, have difficulty concentrating, become more accident prone, and often feel irritable. As we get older the natural aging process, certain chronic conditions, and medications can all erode your chances of a good night's rest.

Sleep Disorders

Sleep disorders are more common than you might think. There are many sleep disorders, but the most common are:

Long-term
insomnia
is common. It includes problems with sleep, such as difficulty falling asleep and/or staying asleep, frequent night wakings, sleepiness during the day, and sleep that is not refreshing. Long-term insomnia affects your quality of life and how you perform day-to-day.

Sleep troubles may seem like just an inconvenience, but if left untreated, complications from insomnia can affect your overall health

Sleep apnea
is a potentially serious sleep disorder that has negative affects on your health. It is a disorder marked by complete or partial airway blockage during sleep. The blocked airway reduces the amount of oxygen in your blood several times an hour throughout the night, causing frequent awakenings. Although you may not fully awaken each time, sleep is disrupted and fragmented enough to create chronic daytime sleepiness. Complications include
high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and early death.

People with sleep apnea often snore loudly or wake up gasping for air. If you or your bed partner has any of these symptoms, call your doctor.

Why Sleep Becomes Elusive

If you do not have a sleep disorder, and still have trouble sleeping, you are not alone. According to the National Sleep Foundation, a number of health problems can make sleeping difficult:

Pain—People with
arthritis
may have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep because of painful joints. If you suffer from arthritis, ask your doctor about treatment for the pain.

Heartburn—Nighttime
heartburn
may cause symptoms of wheezing and chronic cough, with repeated awakenings and daytime sleepiness. Raising the head of the bed may alleviate symptoms, or medication may be needed.

Menopause—The hot flashes and breathing changes associated with menopause appear to disturb sleep. In one study, hot flashes were associated with arousals once every 8 minutes on average.

Medication—Ask your doctor or pharmacist if your medications can cause insomnia or drowsiness, and if changing the time the drug is taken could help overcome these problems.

Going to the bathroom—An
enlarged prostate
or other conditions cause an increased need to get up and go to the bathroom through the night. These multiple trips can disturb your sleep. If you are going to the bathroom multiple times per night, discuss this with your doctor.

Chemical changes—Production of the hormone
melatonin, which influences sleep and wakefulness, changes as we get older.

Establishing Good Sleep Habits

Whether or not you have short- or long-term insomnia, your first steps will be to change the way you approach sleep. Generally, it is a combination of establishing good habits and using some common sense. Some habits may take a little longer to establish than others, but in the end, it will be worth the investment. Good sleep habits include:

Sleep Medications and Herbal Remedies

One study
found behavioral changes provided longer-lasting benefits in the treatment of insomnia than did sleep medications. This means that these should be the first line treatment for sleep problems. Your doctor may suggest you keep a diary of your sleep and wake habits to help determine the cause of and solution to your sleeplessness.

Melatonin
supplements are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). They have been known to help some people with certain sleep disorders, such as jet lag. Valerian, an herb, has been used all over the world to induce sleep. There is mixed evidence to how effective it is though. Inform your doctor if you are taking any herbal supplements.

Lights Out!

Remember that sleep is a necessity, not a luxury. It is as much a part of overall health as good nutrition and regular exercise, so do not settle for a few hours per night. Crawl into a comfortable bed, don your earplugs, and turn off all the lights. Sleeplessness and sleep disorders are treatable. If you try different methods and you still have problems, make an appointment with your doctor.

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.